Gas Tax Revolt in Washington State?

In Washington State—where direct democracy through ballot initiatives has become a political force to be reckoned with in recent years—a voter initiative is gaining momentum to overturn a recent 9.5¢ gasoline tax increase. From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:

It’s looking like voters will decide the fate of the largest transportation tax package in state history. At issue is the Legislature’s 9.5-cent-a-gallon gas tax increase that lawmakers plan to add in four stages.

I-912, if it wins a spot on the November ballot, directly challenges the Legislature’s decision to raise the state’s 28-cents-a-gallon gas tax by 9.5 cents over the next four years. The money is the linchpin of a 16-year, $8.5 billion transportation program.

Legislators and the governor fear that safety and capacity improvements will fall victim to a tax revolt.

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